D.R.I.V.E. stands for Democratic Republican Independent Voter Education. It is the voluntary action committee of the Teamsters. DRIVE is supported by voluntary contributions from Teamster members and retirees.

Since their first inaugural convention in 1903, the Teamsters have been involved in the political process at the federal and state levels, and for that reason DRIVE was established as the way for Teamster members to contribute money to a Political Action Committee (PAC) fund and participate directly in this area of the political process. This fund became increasingly necessary upon the passage of the Federal Elections Act of 1976, which created the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), today's regulator of PAC's throughout the United States. Federal law requires that no general moneys (dues dollars) can be used for political purposes, so PAC's were created as a completely separate fund to which members can voluntarily make contributions.

DRIVE dollars are used to involve Teamster families in grassroots political action, including rallies, petitions drives, mailings, phone banks, political education and lobbying at the state legislature and in Washington, DC. They are also used to support campaigns by public officials who demonstrate that they will stand up for important issues that effect working men and women both in Florida and throughout the United States. DRIVE does not lobby personal issues, we leave those to the members discretion.

Last year contributions to DRIVE by Teamster members and retirees helped support our unions political action program that successfully stood up to employers and anti-union politicians. We stopped Fast Track expansion of NAFTA, kept Congress from eliminating the 40 hour work week and overtime pay. We blocked management's proposal to choose workers representatives "Team Act" and fought for better health care and workplace health and safety and we accomplished all of this despite the fact that management out spent us 16 to 1.

Management knows all to well the power of political and legislative involvement. They always set aside a part of their moneys for political purposes. Teamster members must do the same and the money set aside by us is our DRIVE funds.

Voluntary donations to DRIVE are extremely important. By joining DRIVE, you will increase our power to fight for better jobs, wages, and pensions.

Together, we can fight back against the union busters, and promote laws to help workers improve their quality of life.